$1.8 million in funding has recently been awarded to seventeen community organisations along the HumeLink East transmission line corridor in southern New South Wales. The Community Investment and Benefits Program is supporting initiatives that will deliver long term social, economic and environmental benefits for regional communities.

It expands the contribution of the HumeLink East project, which is expected to create up to 1,600 construction jobs and generate $6.3 billion in direct and indirect regional investment.

The selected organisations are delivering upgrades that strengthen community safety, enhance local facilities and improve environmental resilience.

Carel Nagel, HumeLink East Project Director, said ACCIONA and its joint venture partner, Genus, were impressed by the applications received.

"From fighting bushfires to showcasing the region’s agricultural heritage, many of these initiatives are led by incredibly dedicated volunteers," Mr Nagel said.

"These projects will make a real difference to communities for many years to come." he said.

Funding recipients will deliver a wide range of improvements including upgraded emergency response equipment, new shade structures, enhanced community spaces, improved access to facilities and environmental restoration initiatives.

Projects include upgrades for rural fire service brigades, improvements to community halls and showgrounds, solar heating for local pools and new public amenities.

RFS Bookham Captain, Oliver Kimpton, said the Community Investment and Benefits Program funding would be game changing as Bookham does not have any town water, so they currently have to use water from the local river to fill up the tankers.

“We will be putting a 45,000-litre tank at the station, along with a fast fill pump which will pump about 700 litres a minute, so it will fill one of our tankers quickly and will help our team respond to emergencies quicker," Mr Kimpton said.

Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups Coordinator, Sarah McGrath, said the grant funding would support practical on-ground activity, from doing nursey upgrades throughout the region, establishing another 480 paddock trees and help Landcare to tackle some of the woody weeds in the hard to access areas.

The organisations supported are based across Taralga, Yass, Bookham, Binalong, Gundagai, Tumut and surrounding areas. Their projects will strengthen local resilience, support volunteer-led services and improve public infrastructure for residents and visitors.

The Community Investment and Benefits Program will continue to support local initiatives as HumeLink East progresses, ensuring the project delivers lasting value and positive outcomes for the region.

Recipients of the Community Investment and Benefits Program are:

• RFS Southern Tablelands – for emergency response equipment
• Taralga Showground – for a pavilion upgrade to support community events
• Taralga Pony Club – to rebuild stables, improving safety for events
• Taralga Sports Club – for an outdoor deck to enhance community space
• Upper Lachlan Wood Guild – for woodworking equipment and a storage upgrade
• Yass Swimming Club – for solar shade structures to extend the swimming season
• Bookham RFS – for station upgrades to improve water access and firefighting capability
• Bookham Community Association – to improve local paths and access to facilities
• Yass Area Network of Landcare – for habitat restoration and nursery upgrades
• Bookham Memorial Hall – for new audio-visual equipment to improve hall functionality
• Bowning Hall Association – to install a shade sail over the playground
• Binalong Swimming Club – for solar heating to extend the swimming season
• Rotary Club of Yass – to construct a lookout and a raised viewing platform
• Binalong Community Club – to build an accessible unisex toilet facility
• RFS South West Slopes – for electronic fire danger rating signs and fire cameras
• Gundagai Museum – for amenity upgrades to provide equitable public access
• Tumut Showground Trust – to upgrade power infrastructure